A/N: Seriously people, I'm getting really nervous. No reviews last chapter and pretty much three overall for the past three chapters. Like it, hate it, love it, please say something. If there is no one reading this story, then it gets kind of hard to keep writing. I love this story, but as of late, my only feedback is coming from my lovely beta.
Anyway, I'll prolly start updating one or two of my FF7 fics since I have time to write today.
Onto the story.
House of Cards
By Catsitta
Chapter Seven: Beautiful Disaster
They boys had grown since the last time he had seen them.
L appraised the triple threat standing before him with emotionless calm, dead eyes unblinking at the children clustered around him. Mello, the eldest, was significantly taller than the other two. His blond hair framed his face girlishly; his clothes were skin-tight. Matt, a redhead just a year and a few months Mello's junior, fidgeted restlessly, his eyes flicking constantly to the paused screen of his gameboy. L could smell the faint aroma of cigarettes—the boy had yet to drop the habit he picked up before he graced Whammy's doorstep. As for Near, he stared at the floor in a somber fashion, his plain pajamas only a shade darker than his riotous mass of white hair. He was the most like L in his mannerisms, but there was a distance in his gaze that proved he would never be as sociable as the odd detective, though he was possibly far more ruthless because of it.
These were his heirs. Each was unique in their upbringing, their mindsets and their strengths. Near was the most intelligent and cutthroat of the group, his tactics dry and brutal and utterly without consideration for greater consequences. But, he was quiet, withdrawn. It was difficult to be a detective when you were too caught up in your own complex, little world. Hopefully, once the young boy reached adulthood, he would open up a degree.
Matt was the more creative and emotionally stable of the group, his IQ mere fractions below Near's, and he was becoming a computer wizard of unparalleled skill, which meant he was perhaps the most ideal candidate for the position as L. However, he had recently begun to take steps back into the shadows, focusing his efforts on his games and hacking into government computers as a joke. It was clear he no longer desired the title...
Then there was Mello. A wild firecracker of emotions and sheer brutality. He was "rescued" from the mafia recently, had done his fair share of killing at the tender age of thirteen, and was utterly vulgar. If he wasn't cursing, he was threatening bodily harm to everyone around him, especially Near. He apparently hated the albino child with a passion, but Matt's constant presence kept the teenager relatively passive. However, he was brilliant and a man of action, even if his impulsive hotheadedness would someday be his downfall.
"Hello, boys," L said at last.
"Where the fuck have you been, you bloody bastard?" Mello proved to be just as elegant as he remembered. "And who the fuck was that fuck you brought here? Don't fucking tell me he's going to be your damn heir, because I'll pop a cap in his head if he is."
Matt sighed and tugged at Mello's arm, "Come on, breathe and count to ten like the nice lady told you to do when you get mad."
"I don't need to fucking breathe and count!"
"Then why are you yelling?"
"Because I'm bloody angry at this wanker for running off and coming back with some pansy-arse bastard who could replace us!"
L shook his head, "Light is not my replacement, nor is he in the running to be my heir."
"He shouldn't be here then!"
"No, he shouldn't."
They all fell silent and turned as Roger approached, the small crowd of children parting to allow the headmaster through. He was not an unkind man, but nobody wanted to be under his feet when he was in this mood. L slouched further than usual. Why could nothing go as he planned anymore?
"However, there are extenuating circumstance which will be discussed at a later date," Roger said. "L, your room is ready for you...I believe you came here to rest. So go rest. But in the morning, we will be having a word on the matter of your companion."
Deciding it best to take a hint and say nothing more about Light and her status as his wife, L conceded defeat. "I shall have a few more minutes with the children, then return them to their studies." He slid his gaze back to the trio, who were fixated on him, eyes fearless and wide with curiosity. Even Near was watching him, his stare intense and surprisingly alert, as if L had become one of those jigsaw puzzles the boy delighted in solving.
"As you were," Roger said in dismissal before leaving the room colder in his retreat.
Oddly enough, it was Near who broke the staggering silence.
"I do believe L is in trouble."
Mellow scowled, "Shut up, albino. No one asked you to open your bloody gob."
"Dude, I think Near has a point. Roger never talks to L like that."
L resisted the urge to flick them all between the eyes, "My flight was quite long, boys. I shall take Roger's advice and retire to my rooms."
"No! Hold up a motherfucking minute. You better spill or you'll regret it."
"Mello, why are you threatening L of all people?"
"What kind of piss assassin is he if he's bringing people home alive?" Mello snarked. "He's gone soft, I bet. That's why Roger..."
The boy was cut off by L pressing the edge of one of his darts against the boy's throat. The trio were trained to fight, but none of them were prepared to deal with the lightning swiftness of a battle-tested assassin. The smallest flick of his wrist would gouge open Mello's throat and he doubted anyone would be able to react fast enough to rescue the teen before he bled out onto the floor. Sensing this, Mello stiffened, his eyes growing wild. He twitched, hands reaching for a gun no longer in his possession. He was helpless and at L's mercy.
"Remember, Mello, it is my job to silence those who speak out against me. To make those who do harm disappear. It would be best advised to tread softly around Light and myself if you ever wish to wear my mantel."
He pulled away and tucked the dart under his shirt.
Mello sucked in a ragged breath, then grinned.
"That was fucking awesome as shit. Teach me how to do that!"
Near and Matt both glanced away with matching expressions of defeat. For all his brains, Mello was an idiot at times. Even more clueless than that fool Matsuda or that airhead Misa-
Misa!
Of all the people to allow to slip from his mind, the missing Misa-Misa was not the best to forget about. As far as he knew, she still possessed her memories, which meant she knew his name and face. Her Death Note was locked away, but...Damn!
L tensed. For a brief time, he stupidly believed the Kira case was done and closed. But what could he do? Fly back to Japan to search? Send an agent to look for her?
There is a better option, whispered a small voice in his head. You know her face, her name and you own two little black books that would solve all your troubles.
No. No! Never. He would never stoop that low and use that foul book.
If you don't, the shinigami might get bored again. Isn't it better if it doesn't decide that Light is more entertaining and steals that book away to give back to her?
It would be best for everyone if he burned them.
Though, it was a good question to consider: Where was Ryuuk?
"Um, L? Hullo? L? Are you in there?"
"Hm?"
"Dude, you're looking kinda sick. Maybe you should go lay down or something."
L shoved away his wandering thoughts, "I...Yes, this last case has taken a toll on me. Rest would do me well."
The boys stepped aside and allowed him to pass. None of them knew about the storm swirling inside his head, ripping apart the carefully constructed foundation he had been laying out. Light was a big enough problem to deal with on her own; with a loose cannon like Misa in the mix, it was possible this would all end in disaster.
L leaned against a wall of a darkened hallway.
He needed to regain his focus. He needed to take control.
But how?
Who could he possibly trust in Japan to search for Misa and not turn against him-
He covered his face with his hand with a groan. He knew the perfect fool for the job.
If only he had never seen that beautiful face...
Pushing away from the wall, L dialed his cell phone and retreated into his room.
He had a phone call to make.
A/N: (Up next, plans backfire.)
